Customs and Traditions in England
Almost every nation has a reputation of some kind. The English are reputed to be cold, reserved, rather haughty people. They are steady, easy-going and fond of sports. There are certain kinds of behavior, manners and customs which are peculiar to England.
The English are naturally polite and are never tired of saying "Thank you" and "I am sorry". They are generally disciplined and you never hear loud talk in the street. They don't rush for seats in buses and trains, but they take their seats in queues at bus stops. English people do not shake hands when meeting one another; they do not show their emotions even in tragic situations. They seem to remain good-tempered and cheerful under difficulties.
The English are a nation of stay-at-homes. There is no place like home. The Englishman says "My house is my castle" because he doesn't wish his doings to be overlooked by his neighbors. It is true that English people prefer small houses, built for one family. The fireplace is the natural centre of interest in the room. They like to sit round the fire and watch the dancing flames, exchanging the day's impressions. In many houses you will still see fireplaces, sometimes with columns on each side and a shelf above it on which there is often a clock or a mirror or photos.
The love of gardens is deep-rooted in the British people. Most men's conversations are about gardens. It may be a discussion of the best methods of growing cucumbers, a talk about the plot, which differs from all the others.
The British like growing plants in a window-box outside the kitchen or in the garden near the house. They love flowers very much.
Britain is a nation of animal lovers. They have about five million dogs, almost as many cats, 3 million parrots and others. In Britain they have special dog shops selling food, clothes and other things for dogs. There are dog hair-dressing saloons and dog cemeteries. In Britain pets can send Christmas cards to their friends, birthday cards. Owners can buy for their pets jeweled collars, lamb’s wool coat for a dog, pajamas, and so on. There are special animal hotels at the airports. The English people believe that they are the only nation on the earth that is really kind to its animals.
How they spend their weekends
Those, who live in cities and towns, like to go out of town. Every Englishman is fond of the countryside in a nice thatched cottage with roses round the porch and in the garden, the fresh air and bright sun. No crowds of people, silence and leisure.
Those, who stay at home, try to do all the jobs they were too busy to do during the week. Some go shopping on Saturday mornings; some do the house-washing, cleaning. Some men do and watch sporting events.
Saturday evening is the best time for parties, dances, going to the cinema or theatre.
O
n
Sunday after breakfast they may go to work in the garden take a dog
for a walk, visit to a pub. Sunday is a day for inviting friends and
relatives to afternoon tea.
British cuisine
There are some traditions concerning food. English cooking is heavy, substantial and plain. The Englishman likes a good breakfast. To them a good breakfast means porridge with fish, bacon and eggs, toast and marmalade, tea or coffee. It is the same day to day. The English like their toast cold.
Tea is part of the prose of British life, as necessary as potatoes and bread. Seven cups of it wake you up in the morning; 9 cups will put you to sleep at night.
The midday meal is called lunch. This meal consists on week-days of stew, fried fish, chops, liver or sausages, vegetables. Rice and macaroni are seldom served. Then there is an apple tart, or hot milk pudding. Sunday dinner is a special occasion; it is a joint of beef or lamb with vegetables. Then a large heavy pudding with custard goes. From 4 to 6 there is a very light meal called 5 o'clock tea. It is a snack of thin bread and butter and cups of tea with small cakes. This became a kind ritual. At this time everything stops for tea.
Dinner (usually at 6 p.m.) is much like lunch and is in many families the last meal of the day. Supper is a snack of bread and cheese and cocoa.
The English have a popular specialty known as fish and chips. They are bought at special fish and chips shops.
Task 7. Find the answers to these questions in the text:
What are the main qualities of the British people?
What do the British like?
What is their attitude to animals?
How do the British spend their weekends?
What is the British cuisine like?
Task 8. Choose the suitable verb form.
Almost every nation (to have/had/has) a reputation of some kind.
They (rush/don’t rush/to rush) for seats in buses and trains but they (took/take/takes) their seats in queues at bus stops.
They seem (remains/to remain/remaining) good-tempered and cheerful under difficulties.
The fireplace (is/ was/to be) the natural center of interest in the room.
It is (allowed to/may be/might be) a discussion of the best methods of growing cucumbers, a talk about the plot which differs from all others.
The British like (to grow/growing/grew) plants in a window-box outside the kitchen or in the garden near the house.
In Britain pets (could/are able to/can) send Christmas cards to their friends, birthday cards.
The English people (believing/to believe/believe) that they are the only nation on the earth that is really kind to animals.
Those who (lives/live/is living) in cities and towns (like/liked/likes) to go out of town.
Saturday (is/was/to be) best time for parties, dances, (to go/ going/went) to the cinema or theatre.
Task 9. Enjoy some bits of humor and offer your comment.
Two fathers of sons in college were comparing notes.
"My son’s letters always send me to the dictionary," said one.
"You are lucky," said the other. "My son’s letters always send me to the bank."
Task 10. Tell in short about the life of ordinary people in Great Britain.
Task 11. Make up a dialog about British meals.
